In trend terms, the number of commitments for owner occupied housing finance increased 2.2%. The number of commitments for owner occupied housing finance excluding refinancing rose 3.1%.

In trend terms, the number of commitments for the construction of dwellings increased 5.1% and purchase of new dwellings increased 3.1%.

In original terms, the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments continued to rise, increasing from 27.3% in March 2009 to 28.0% in April 2009.

In original terms, the number of fixed rate loan commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments increased from 2.4% in March 2009 to 4.2% in April 2009.

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE

Release Date

May 2009

8 July 2009

June 2009

10 August 2009

July 2009

9 September 2009

August 2009

7 October 2009

September 2009

9 November 2009

October 2009

9 December 2009

REVISIONS

Minor revisions to March 2009 data have been made in this month's issue.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Philip Beresford on Canberra (02) 6252 6052.